Steelers' T.J. Watt Turning Nick Herbig Into Training Camp Star

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Nick Herbig borrowed a move from T.J. Watt and has dominated the early part of training camp.

LATROBE -- Nick Herbig knows the first couple of days of training camp - when no one is in pads and nothing is live - have to be taken with a grain of salt, particularly for him as an outside linebacker. Still, he's been among the most impressive players at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp this week, wrecking 11-on-11 drills with his pass-rushing skills on the edge. 

As he dodges blocks and applies pressure on quarterbacks at Chuck Noll Field in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Herbig's style of play has at times looked strikingly similar to his teammate and Steelers superstar, T.J. Watt and for good reason. Herbig's been borrowing from Watt - like one of his signature pass rush moves, the "ghost" - and using them to dominate. 

“It’s new. I learned that from T.J. He uses that move a lot," Herbig said. "I work on with it with him a lot. I actually saw him do it on film while we were watching film and then I asked him about it.”

If the pads were on and the plays were live, Herbig would have recorded multiple sacks in team drills over the first two days. He also batted a pass down during day two. 

The ghost is about speed and finesse. The rusher will duck their shoulder underneath the hands of a blocking tackle, who goes lunging at air while an edge defender suddenly appears on underneath their outside shoulder. 

Watt and other Steelers defenders have been happy to to help Herbig as he enters his first NFL training camp, teaching everything from the location of important buildings on campus at St. Vincent College to more concrete football techniques. 

“It’s been cool," Herbig said. "You know, a lot of the vets, they look out for you here at the Steelers. A lot of guys take me under their wing, show me the way like T.J. [Watt] and Alex [Highsmith] in our room. They’re really helpful and they’ve helped me in a lot of ways.”

Herbig has long admired Watt, a former star at his own alma mater, Wisconsin. But getting to see Watt work up close and take in the elements of his life that cameras can't see, has helped Herbig gain a new appreciation for the level of commitment that it takes to be one of the best defensive players in the NFL. 

“You really get to see what he’s like when the lights aren’t on because everyone only gets to see him when the lights are on on Sundays," Herbig said. "He’s really a heck of a player but you don’t get to see what goes on behind the scenes with the routines and the daily schedule. It’s really second to none and I really admire that about him.”

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